Ameliorative effect of Ferula Asafoetida oleo-gum-resin (Asafin) against cisplatin induced functional dyspepsia condition

Background

Functional dyspepsia (FD), affecting over 30 % of the global population, manifests with symptoms like fullness, bloating, epigastric pain, early satiety, and gastric motility issues. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy and mechanism of action of a water-soluble powder formulation of Ferula Asafoetida oleo-gum-resin (Asafin) in an animal model of Cisplatin-induced (CP) FD.

Methods

The animals were divided into four groups: Group I - Normal, Group II - Cisplatin control, Group III - Cisplatin + Standard drug, and Group IV - Cisplatin + Asafin. Various parameters including body weight, food intake, hematological markers, biochemical markers, and histopathology were analyzed during and after a 30-day study period.

Results

It was observed that CP-treated animals exhibited a marked reduction in food intake and body weight, which significantly improved or reversed when treated with Asafin. Further analysis of gut peptide hormones (Leptin, Ghrelin, GLP-1) and their gene expressions confirmed delayed gastric emptying and impaired gastric motility in CP rats. However, co-administration of Asafin with CP showed a significant improvement in these markers, indicating the normalization of the symptoms. These results were also consistent with the observed gene expressions of appetite-regulating GI peptide hormones CCK, POMC, MTL, NPY, and CART, which returned to normal levels. Histopathology results further supported the significant improvement provided by Asafin in CP rats

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that Asafin may mitigate FD risk by modulating the gut-brain axis via gut peptide hormones and neurotransmitters.